For the BJP in Madhya Pradesh, the ‘Laadli Behena’ scheme could hold the key to victory in the Assembly polls

Both the BJP and the Congress have kept women voters front and centre in their campaign strategy till now

For the BJP in Madhya Pradesh, battling a narrative war with the Congress in the run-up to the Assembly polls in the State, the campaign boils down to convincing women voters — 48% of the State’s electorate — to prioritise the record of the Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s government in delivering on welfare programmes.

Both the BJP and the Congress have kept women voters front and centre in their campaign strategy till now, with the BJP-led State government launching the Ladli Behena scheme of ₹1,000 per month as income support to women between the ages of 23-60 years, and the Congress’ Nari Samman Yojana, which promises ₹1,500 per month.

The Chouhan government has already released two instalments of the income support scheme, adding up to roughly over ₹2,400 crore, to over 1.25 crore beneficiaries across the State. The challenge, however, is to convince beneficiaries that a bird in hand is better than a manifesto promise.

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Nowhere is this more obvious than in Sehore, where the Ladli Behena scheme was launched, and which includes parts of the Chief Minister’s Assembly constituency of Budhni.

“We have been getting the [money] instalments of Ladli Behena regularly and it is really helpful,” Radha Mewada, a resident, said. She uses the cash for various things, from indulging her children to purchasing medicines to buying cooking gas. She also admits to have filled in the form furnished by Congress workers in the area for the Nari Samman Yojana. “That is, however, something that has been promised. This is already delivered,” she said with a smile, but adds that she filled the form, “just in case” the Congress came to power.

Manju Kumari, also from the area and a beneficiary, said she has full faith in the promise made by Mr. Chouhan that the benefit amount will gradually be raised to ₹3,000. “If he has given ₹1,000, he will also give ₹3,000,” Ms. Kumari said.